By Foday Moriba Conteh
The streets of Black Hall Road in eastern Freetown are tense with whispers and unrest following the controversial outing of a young man, Suleiman Banqura, whose alleged involvement in a same-sex relationship has triggered widespread outrage, calls for his arrest, and even threats to his life.
Suleiman, reportedly in hiding, amid a growing climate of fear and persecution targeting LGBTQ+ individuals in Sierra Leone. His case has reignited a national debate around the state’s treatment of sexual minorities and exposed the deep-rooted religious and cultural intolerance faced by those who defy heteronormative expectations.
According to credible sources, Suleiman was caught with his male partner, in an unfinished building along Black Hall Road. The incident quickly went viral in the community, prompting members of Suleiman’s family and neighborhood to respond with fury. His alleged partner was arrested by the Sierra Leone Police, and a manhunt has reportedly been launched by local youth groups acting in coordination with religious stakeholders for Sulieman Banqura.
Suleiman, who was raised in a devout Muslim household, now faces condemnation not just from the state but from his own family. “He has disgraced us,” said a relative who requested anonymity. “We are a religious family, and what he has done is haram (forbidden).”
In an interview with the fiancée of Suleiman Banqura, the mother of his child said she was not surprised that he was caught engaging in homosexual acts in an unfinished building.
She disclosed that she had personally caught Suleiman in similar acts on several occasions at his residence, which may have prompted him to start using secluded, unfinished buildings for such activities.
She further revealed that their relationship was arranged by Suleiman’s elder sister, who believed that being in a heterosexual relationship would distract him from homosexuality something the family considered deeply shameful.
However, she noted that Suleiman was never interested in the relationship and showed little emotional or physical engagement.
“Throughout our relationship, I was the one pushing for us to be together,” she said. “Suleiman never showed interest. Even having sex was a challenge. The first time we were intimate was after I caught him with his male partner in his room. I told him I would keep the incident secret from his family only if he agreed to sleep with me and he did.”
Her Fiancée stated that she later discovered she was pregnant. Yet, even during the pregnancy, Suleiman continued to avoid intimacy. She recalled that the only other time they had intercourse was again after she caught him with another male partner. In total, they were only sexually active twice throughout their relationship.
She concluded by saying she was not shocked when news broke that Suleiman had been caught again with a male partner this time in an unfinished building.
She added that the previous incidents she witnessed had already been reported to his family, community members, stakeholders, and even the Sierra Leone Police. Suleiman, however, managed to escape and has since gone into hiding. His whereabouts remain unknown to date.
Suleiman’s case is not isolated.
Reports from Thunder Hill, another eastern suburb of Freetown, confirm a similar crackdown on LGBTQ+ individuals. A group of Imams staged a public protest against what they called the “normalization” of homosexuality in the area. Video footage circulating on social media shows the clerics marching through the streets with placards reading, “No to Homosexuality in Sierra Leone,” chanting religious slogans and vowing to rid their communities of anyone practicing same-sex relations.
The Imams accused Suleiman and others of attempting to “legalize homosexuality” a claim that has no legal basis but has fueled public rage. They called for community unity to fight what they described as an “abominable act,” echoing the sentiment that homosexuality is both constitutionally and religiously forbidden.
Since then, sources close to the situation have revealed that unknown assailants have allegedly been hired to eliminate Suleiman and his peers. The police have issued arrest warrants, and local vigilantes are reportedly scouring neighborhoods in search of them.
Under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, homosexuality remains illegal in Sierra Leone, carrying a sentence of life imprisonment. There are no anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, and law enforcement agencies have been accused of complicity in harassing and abusing suspects accused of same-sex relations.
“There is no safe space for people like Suleiman in Sierra Leone,” said a local human rights advocate who spoke under condition of anonymity. “He faces threats from the police, the community, and even his own family. As it stands, returning would be a death sentence.”
As the hunt for him intensifies, Suleiman has gone into hiding. His supporters are now advocating for international attention and asylum opportunities, warning that the country’s increasing intolerance could lead to more violent outcomes if the international community does not intervene.
“He cannot go back. He must not go back,” the advocate added.
“Suleiman is not just fleeing prosecution he is fleeing execution.”
Despite Sierra Leone’s commitments to human rights through various international treaties, LGBTQ+ rights remain a deeply taboo subject, with successive governments avoiding the issue for fear of religious backlash and political fallout.
As of now, Suleiman’s exact whereabouts remain unknown. But his case continues to shed light on the fragile lives of many LGBTQ+ Sierra Leoneans who live in constant fear unseen, unheard, and unprotected.
